Discombobulated

My absence from writing recently reflects my disappointment with politics, politicians and contemporary goings-on. Like many of you, the repetitious drone of the media along with the disgraceful behavior of Republican leadership and many others has gotten me down. This together with disillusionment with friends whom I thought I knew has especially driven me to take refuge in other interests to preserve my sanity. I’ve written extensively about politics and current events and, frankly, question what I can add that might be helpful. At the same time, I feel guilty to retire from the field and give up the fight.

The continued embrace of Trump and his allies by friends and acquaintances has particularly disturbed me. Their intransigence confounds me, for I have found many to be reasonable, honest and decent people as well as educated and successful. I keep asking myself what motive would provoke them to support a clearly amoral man and the sordid and inexplicable actions of his ardent supporters? They are not those who have real grievances or congenitally indulge in antisocial behavior. By voting for a candidate as incompetent and unsavory as Trump they helped elect him and give credibility to his continued savaging of the body politic.

I say this because, as conservatives or Republicans and the legions of Democrat-haters, they had options to elect candidates who shared their views and right-of-center politics. In 2016 they could have nominated and elected John Kasich, the former governor of Ohio, someone without all the baggage of Trump. Doing so, would have headed off the turmoil and continued disruption engendered by the former president and the incipient malaise that continues to afflict the Republican party.

My friends share responsibility for our nation’s ills and some might say they have blood on their hands!